Portable toy train track

ABSTRACT

A portable toy train track is described wherein sturdy portable lightweight track sections interlock with one another to form a train track for a toy train of a size sufficient to support the weight of a child. The train track sections are of unitary molded construction with molded flanges extending longitudinally from track sections to interlock with flange receiving recesses in adjoining sections.

Unified @tniee Paieni 0000000 1111111 /////l/ 00880000800 3333333 2222222 U. m rmmeLma k wmn mmwa om PCGGPBA 1103536 2245566 9999999 1111111 l/ll/l/ 90700111 1 l 1 2 3778 8l7w9546 L amon .2FJ 11.2.2233 a n m a q mm 0 n wwnn M ill. I, ,,m wm awwmwm wnw PMIHWJRH I 0 e m N. mm e w i V l n .13 l AFPA 1 ill]. 2 253 7 2247 l [[[l Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Pointe 54] KEEN-ABLE TQY W TRACK Assistant ExaminerRichard A. Bertsch Attorney-Bryan, Parmelee Johnson & Bollinger i0 Claims, 8 Brewing Figs.

ABSTRAC'H': A portable toy train track is described wherein 0 0 M W lw; .H/O 006 6 M A mm IA LM n n WW 1] 0 ii to support the weight of a child. The train track sections are of unitary molded construction with molded flanges extending longitudinally from track sections to interlock with flange receiving recesses in adjoining sections.

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e D E PATENIED JUL 1 3 IHTi 3, 592., 384

sum 1 0F 4 INVENTOR BY W W I 'PMMJLL a/W' ATTORN S PATRICK M. TOMARO.

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sum 2 or 4 INVENTOR PATRICK M. TOMARO BY mam B J) ATTORNE S PATENTED Jun 3 I97! 3592.384

sum u UF 4 'Fig. 8

INVENTOR PATRICK M. TOMARO BYmw P a 1W ATTORNQYS PORTABLE TOY TRAIN TRACK SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION track is of light weight molded construction, suitable for quick installation and easy assembly by a child. The track sections interlock with one another in a self-aligning manner to obtain quality rail joints between adjoining track sections and prevent casual dislodgement between sections. The portable track is of high strength construction, yet light weight to enable a child to assemble the track at any convenient location such as the basement ofa home or a garden or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These advantages and other may be understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment of a track in accordance with the invention in conjunction with the drawings wherein,

FIG. 1 is a perspective broken view ofjoined track sections in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a broken perspective view of a single-track section in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective broken view of the underside of a track section in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective broken view of the underside of a pair of tracks sections as they are assembled to one another;

FIG. 5 is a broken perspective view of the underside of assembled track sections:

FIG. 6 is a side view in elevation taken along the line 6-6 of adjoining track sections during assembly thereof;

FIG. 7 is a side view in elevation taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 2 showing the position of several parts thereof during installation of adjacent track sections;

FIG. 8 is a section view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 2 showing the interlock between assembled track sections.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT With reference to the FIG. I, a pair of track sections 10 and 12, in accordance with the invention, are perspectively shown. Each track section is a frame of unitary molded construction made of a lightweight material such as a plastic of sufficient thickness to provide rigidity and sturdiness for supporting a train carrying a child. Each track section is shaped so as to provide a pair of parallel spaced longitudinally aligned wheelbearing rails 14-16 each having a wheel bearing surface 17. The rails are spaced from one another with a plurality of cross ties such as 18 spaced at intervals selected to provide strong vertical and lateral support for the rails.

Interlocking of track sections l0-I2 is accomplished with flanges 20 located at ends 22 of each track section. Also, at each track section end is a flange-receiving recess 26 formed by channel-shaped crossties 18. As shown in FIG. 1, the flange recess 26 interlocks with a flange 20 from an adjoining track section.

As may be seen from the view in FIG. 3, rails I4l6 and crossties 18 are of channel cross section. Rail channels 28-28 extend longitudinally, terminating at the end wall 30 of a flange 20 and being open at the opposite end. Rail channels 28-28' are wide at the bottom of a track section and narrow adjacent the wheel bearing surface I7 of the rails. The rail channels 28-28 cross the channels of crossties 18. The open ends of the rail and crosstie channels terminate in common mounting plane to provide stable ground support.

Ends 22 of sections 10 are provided with longitudinally protruding lips such as 32 which mate within lip receiving recesses 33 formed by the open ends of the narrow portions of the rail channels 28-28'. Lips 32 and the recesses 33 are located so that casual dislodgement of assembled track sections is prevented. Thus, assembled track sections such as shown in FIG. 1 can be raised by holding only one section with the other prevented from releasing because of the coaction between flanges 20 and lips 32. Only a controlled pivoting of assembled tracks about a horizontal axis can obtain their release so that in their horizontally aligned operative positions a reliably connected track is formed.

Flanges 20 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) are in the form of a T with the crossbar 34 of the T providing lateral flange segments 36-36. The leg of the T, that is the longitudinal extension 37, is selected so that inner surfaces 38-38 of the flange segments 36-36 seat within the channel 26 and adjacent to the outer wall 40 of end located crossties 18. For ease of assembly, surfaces 38-38 are chamfered in a direction which is upwardly and away from the bottom of walls 40 of endlocated ties 18.

Supporting edges such as 42 interconnect adjacent crossties with one another and are horizontally disposed in lateral directions from the bottom of rail channels 28-28'. Edges 42 impart enhanced rigidity and vertical support capability to the track sections.

The longitudinal leg portion of each flange is provided with a longitudinal upwardly projecting rib 44 sized to fit within the narrow portion of the rail channel of an adjoining track. Rib 44 provides enhanced vertical and lateral support in the vicinity ofa railjoint.

In the assembly of the track sections I0l2 the sections are pivoted about a horizontal axis at an angle as shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7. The leg 37 of the T-flanges 20 rest in the wide portions of the rail channels 28 and lips 32 are aligned for protrusion into the narrow portions of rail channels 28. Note that the crossbar portions 34 of the flanges 20 are poised to seat in the crosstie channels 26 and the legs 37 in channels 28-28' upon coplanar alignment of the track sections thus preventing their twisting and longitudinal casual release.

In FIG. 1., 5 and 8 the horizontal coplanar alignment of track sections 10-12 is shown. The underside view in FIG. 5 provides a clear indication of the position of interlocking flanges 20 and flange receiving recesses 26. Notes in the view of FIG. 8 how lip 32 provides rail joint vertical support for a sufficient longitudinal distance to span the gap 46 between rails of adjoining track sections.

Having thus described a portable toy train track in accordance with the invention its many advantages may be appreciated. Individual track sections are sturdy yet of light weight channel frame construction so as to allow achild to assemble and use the track with safety. Casual release of connected rail sections is prevented with the aid of lips and lip receiving recesses which impose controlled pivoted motion of the track sections for their assembly and release.

What I claim is:

I. A portable toy train track comprising a plurality of molded unitary track sections which interlock with one another to form a reliable track for a train, said track sections being formed of rugged moldable material shaped to form parallel spaced rails at the upper side of the track and with molded flanges extending longitudinally of the ends of track sections, said track sections being formed with lateral hollow channel-shaped rail ties integrally molded with the tract sections, said rail ties extending downwardly to terminate in a common plane for coplanar vertical support of the rails, said track section ends further having flange receiving recesses oriented to receive and capture pivotally engaged flanges of other track sections, said flanges being shaped :to provide lateral interlocking track section engagement to secureadjoined sections against longitudinal and twisting release whereby said flanges and flange receiving recessesand rail ties coact to provide a reliably connected and sturdy-portable toy track for a child-supporting train.

2. A portable train track comprising a plurality of molded unitary track sections which pivotally interlock with one another to form a reliable track for a train, said track sections being formed of rugged molded material shaped to form parallel spaced wheel bearing rails of channel cross section and located at the upper side of the track, the ends of the rail channels being selectively provided with lips longitudinally extending beyond and below the wheel bearing surface of the rails, with selected ends of the rail channels sized to form recesses shaped to receive said lips, said track sections further being provided with molded flanges extending longitudinally of the track sections in alignment with and below the rails for continuous vertical support of rails across rail joints formed with adjoining interlocked track section ends further having flangereceiving recesses oriented to pivotally receive and capture flanges of adjoining track sections, said flanges being shaped to provide an interlock against longitudinal and twisting release with the rails of adjoined track sections maintained in close relationship to form a reliably connected track for a train.

3. The portable toy train track as claimed in claim 2 wherein said molded flanges are provided with lateral segments shaped to seat in flange receiving recesses to provide interlock with adjoining track sections.

4. A portable toy train track comprising a plurality of interlocking portable track sections each of said portable track sections being of unitary molded lightweight frame construction. said frame being shaped to form a pair of parallel spaced longitudinal wheel bearing rails of channel cross sections and crossties spaced at longitudinal intervals to interconnect the rails for parallel spacing thereof, and vertical support of said rails, with end located crossties being of channel cross section, with ends of said track section being provided with integrally molded flanges extending longitudinally of the track section and provided with laterally extending segments, said flanges extending longitudinally for a distance sufficient to seat partially in rail channels with the lateral segments seated adjacent lateral channel walls in end located crossties of adjoining track sections to interlock adjoining track sections and bring their wheel bearing rail ends into proximity alignment to form the toy train track, and with ends of said rail sections provided with alignment lips and recesses shaped to receive said lips, said lips and recesses being located to prevent casual release of assembled molded track section.

5. The portable toy train track as claimed in claim 4 wherein said flanges are located below ends of wheel bearing rails and extend downwardly to provide continuous ground support below rail joints between adjoining track sections.

6. The portable toy train track as claimed in claim 5 wherein said rails are channel shaped with open ends sized to receive the lips with sufficient capture to prevent casual release of assembled track sections.

7. The portable toy train track as claimed in claim 6 wherein the flanges in the track sections are of channel cross section having channels in alignment with the rail channels.

8. The portable toy train track as claimed in claim 4 wherein said track sections are provided with supporting edges interconnecting crossties and extending laterally from rail channels to enhance track section vertical support and structural rigidity.

9. A portable toy train track comprising a plurality of interlocking portable track sections each of said portable track sections being of unitary molded lightweight frame construction, said frame being shaped to form a pair of parallel spaced longitudinal wheel bearing channel-shaped rails with open ends and crossties spaced at longitudinal intervals to interconnect the rails for parallel spacing thereof, and vertical support of said rails, with end located crossties being of channel cross section, with ends of said track sections being provided with integrally molded T-shaped flanges of channel cross section with the crossbar on each T-shaped flange forming a laterally extending segment, said flanges extending longitudinally for a distance sufficient to seat the crossbars adjacent lateral chan nel walls in end located crossties of adjoining track sections and bring their wheel bearing rail ends into proximity alignment to orm the toy tram track, with the wall being chamfered upwardly and away from the bottom of the adjacent crosstie wall, and with selected ends of said rails being provided with alignment lips and with the open ends of the rails shaped to form recesses to receive said lips, said lips and recesses being located to prevent casual release of assembled molded track sections.

10. The portable toy train track as claimed in claim 9 wherein the leg of the T-shaped flange is provided with an upwardly extending protrusion sized to flt within the channel of an interlocked rail to provide structural rigidity and stability. 

1. A portable toy train track comprising a plurality of molded unitary track sections which interlock with one another to form a reliable track for a train, said track sections being formed of rugged moldable material shaped to form parallel spaced rails at the upper side of the track and with molded flanges extending longitudinally of the ends of track sections, said track sections being formed with lateral hollow channel-shaped rail ties integrally molded with the tract sections, said rail ties extending downwardly to terminate in a common plane for coplanar vertical support of the rails, said track section ends further having flange receiving recesses oriented to receive and capture pivotally engaged flanges of other track sections, said flanges being shaped to provide lateral interlocking track section engagement to secure adjoined sections against longitudinal and twisting release whereby said flanges and flange receiving recesses and rail ties coact to provide a reliably connected and sturdy portable toy track for a child-supporting train.
 2. A portable train track comprising a plurality of molded unitary track sections which pivotally interlock with one another to form a reliable track for a train, said track sections being formed of rugged molded material shaped to form parallel spaced wheel bearing rails of channel cross section and located at the upper side of the track, the ends of the rail channels being selectively provided with lips longitudinally extending beyond and below the wheel bearing surface of the rails, with selected ends of the rail channels sized to form recesses shaped to receive said lips, said track sections further being provided with molded flanges extending longitudinally of the track sections in alignment with and below the rails for continuous vertical support of rails across rail joints formed with adjoining interlocked track section ends further having flange-receiving recesses oriented to pivotally receive and capture flanges of adjoining track sections, said flanges being shaped to provide an interlock against longitudinal and twisting release with the rails of adjoined track sections maintained in close relationship to form a reliably connected track for a train.
 3. The portable toy train track as claimed in claim 2 wherein said molded flanges are provided with lateral segments shaped to seat in flange receiving recesses to provide interlock with adjoining track sections.
 4. A portable toy train track comprising a plurality of interlocking portable track sections each of said portable track sections being of unitary molded lightweight frame construction, said frame being shaped to form a pair of parallel spaced longitudinal wheel bearing rails of channel cross sections and crossties spaced at longitudinal intervals to interconnect the rails for parallel spacing thereof, and vertical support of said rails, with end located crossties being of channel cross section, with ends of said track section being provided with integrally molded flanges extending longitudinally of the track section and provided with laterally extending segments, said flanges extending longitudinally for a distance sufficient to seat partially in rail channels with the lateral segments seated adjacent lateral channel walls in end located crossties of adjoining track sections to interlock adjoining track sections and bring their wheel bearing rail ends into proximity alignment to form the toy train track, and with ends of said rail sections provided with alignment lips and recesses shaped to receive said lips, said lips and recesses being located to prevent casual release of assembled molded track section.
 5. The portable toy train track as claimed in claim 4 wherein said flanges are located below ends of wheel bearing rails and extend downwardly to provide continuous ground support below rail joints between adjoining track sections.
 6. The portable toy train track as claimed in claim 5 wherein said Rails are channel shaped with open ends sized to receive the lips with sufficient capture to prevent casual release of assembled track sections.
 7. The portable toy train track as claimed in claim 6 wherein the flanges in the track sections are of channel cross section having channels in alignment with the rail channels.
 8. The portable toy train track as claimed in claim 4 wherein said track sections are provided with supporting edges interconnecting crossties and extending laterally from rail channels to enhance track section vertical support and structural rigidity.
 9. A portable toy train track comprising a plurality of interlocking portable track sections each of said portable track sections being of unitary molded lightweight frame construction, said frame being shaped to form a pair of parallel spaced longitudinal wheel bearing channel-shaped rails with open ends and crossties spaced at longitudinal intervals to interconnect the rails for parallel spacing thereof, and vertical support of said rails, with end located crossties being of channel cross section, with ends of said track sections being provided with integrally molded T-shaped flanges of channel cross section with the crossbar on each T-shaped flange forming a laterally extending segment, said flanges extending longitudinally for a distance sufficient to seat the crossbars adjacent lateral channel walls in end located crossties of adjoining track sections and bring their wheel bearing rail ends into proximity alignment to form the toy train track, with the wall being chamfered upwardly and away from the bottom of the adjacent crosstie wall, and with selected ends of said rails being provided with alignment lips and with the open ends of the rails shaped to form recesses to receive said lips, said lips and recesses being located to prevent casual release of assembled molded track sections.
 10. The portable toy train track as claimed in claim 9 wherein the leg of the T-shaped flange is provided with an upwardly extending protrusion sized to fit within the channel of an interlocked rail to provide structural rigidity and stability. 